Challenges of Mobile Health Applications in Developing Countries - E-Healthcare Systems and Wireless Communications - page 9

support in many developing countries e.g., lack
of signal, lack of high-bandwidth communications
(such as 3G networks), cost (infrastructure deploy-
ment, voice/data communications), and policy
constraints. There is a particular risk of mHealth
not realizing its full potential due to small-scale
implementations and pilot projects with limited
reach. A report by The Earth Institute at Columbia
University reported deployment barriers in five
different categories (mHealth Alliance, 2010):

opportunities for successful behavioral
changes and interventions.

• Data collection and disease surveil-

lance can benefit from mobile technology
through the reduced cost and time neces-
sary for mobile-based approaches, but
also reduced error rates. A key barrier in
mobile-based data collection and disease
surveillance is the lack of coherence within
health information systems and the lack of
policies to guide the data flows, which pre-
vent that the information collected within
health service delivery can be used for dis-
ease surveillance.

• Treatment compliance focuses on the com-

munication between health care provider
and patients. While there have been vari-
ous studies on treatment compliance, there
is a lack of large-scale and longitudinal tri-
als, particularly focusing on low-income
families, that are necessary to provide the

• Health information systems allow health

workers and the general population to ac-
cess health information, but also support
routine data collection and reporting as

Table 1. Evolving capabilities of mobile technologies

Current Mobile Technologies Advancement Issue Future Mobile Technologies

Hardware • Suitable for basic mHealth services

• Easy access to web (through GPRS) and
wireless networks where available
• Speed is a limiting factor for some applica-
tions
• Intuitive touch support and enhanced graphic
display quality on most smartphones

• WiMAX chipset standard-
ized across PCs and mobile
devices

• Larger displays; solar charging to
increase battery life
• Increased intelligence unify-
ing mobile phone and computer
capabilities
• More context aware features to
personalize mobile phone user
experience

Software • Abundance of software for mobile phones

and laptops
• Open source software available for mobile
operating systems like Android

• Java Virtual Machines
(JVM) and Open-Source
Systems (OSS)

• Reduced development times and
costs

Network • Good cellular coverage in urban areas, less

coverage in rural areas
• Broadband Internet access still limited due
to high costs and geography

• Increased bandwidth for
newer applications

• More universal wireless Internet
access and network transparency

Standards • Lack of standards governing Mobile Health

services; these require policy decisions

• New standards for spreading
mobile access and licensing
decisions

• Diverse services and more partner-
ships between providers and service
industries

Services • Education and awareness programs

• Data collections
• Remote Monitoring
• Disease tracking

• (All of the above) • More sophisticated diagnosis and

consultation for mHealth services
• More personalized and context
aware mHealth services
• Effective use of health care
resources and workers